Electric switches



- Nov. 6, 1956 M. B. VITUS ET AL 2,769,882

ELECTRIC SWITCHES Filed Nov. 10, 1952 INVENTOR.6

MAURICE B, VITUS BYMAURI'CE B VITUS JR CARLTON J, VITUS ATTORNEY Unit3d tes Patent ELECTRIC swrrcnns Maurice B. Vitus, Maurice B. Vitus, Jr., and Carlton J. Vitus, Eugene, Greg.

Application November 10, 1952, Serial No. 319,722

1 Claim. (Cl. 200-168) This invention relates to electric switches and is particularly related to remote control switches.

The primary object of this invention is to construct a remote control switch that is water and gas tight.

In the controlling of cranes and other equipment on construction jobs, wherein the remote control switch comes in contact with water, grease and gummy materials that would ordinarily interfere, this switch is admirably adapted.

Further, in these operations, the remote control switches may be run over by equipment. It is a further object of this invention to construct a switch that will resist heavy pressures exerted by equipment running over the same.

In the construction of our switch, there are no moving or sliding parts coming in contact with the surrounding area, therefore water, gas, grease and so forth cannot effect its operation.

These and other incidental objects will be apparent in the drawings, specification and claim.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a face view of our new and improved remote control switch, parts broken away for convenience of illustration.

Figure 2 is an end sectional view, taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the body or case of our new and improved switch, the face plate and working parts having been removed.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the face plate of the switch.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the resilient material used in operating the switch mechanism.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the sub-base to which the switch mechanism is mounted.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a base used to mount the switch spring to the resilient diaphragm.

Figure 8 is a view of the spring employed for holding the resilient diaphragm from contact with the plunger of the switch.

Referring more specifically to the drawings:

Our new and improved remote control switch consists of a relatively heavy body or casing 1, having sides 2, end walls 3 and a bottom 4 all cast in one piece. The casing is further reenforced by the reenforcing ribs 5. A relatively heavy cover plate 6 is adapted to be secured to the case 1 by screws 7 passing through the holes 8 of the cover plate 6 and being threaded into the reenforcing ribs 5 by way of the threaded holes 9.

Secured to the underside of the cover plate is a flexible diaphragm 14) of a rubber-like impervious material. This diaphragm has a sub-base 11 contacting its underside, as best illustrated in Figure 2. The diaphragm 10 is clamped between the face plate 6 and the sub-base 11 by screws 12 and 13. An electric switch 14 is held to the base plate 11 by the screws 12, as best illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. This switch may be of any standard design or make.

2,769,882 Patented Nov. 6, 1956 When the face or cover plate 6 is applied to the easing 1 by the screws 7, a water and gas tight seal is created between the face plate and the upper edge 15 of the casing by the resilient diaphragm -10. Openings 16 are provided in the face plate registering with openings 17 within the base plate 11. This allows the diaphragm 10 to be depressed by the finger of the operator, indicated by broken lines 18.

The depression of the diaphragm operates the plunger 19 of the switch forcing it into the switch box, operating the mechanism therein for closing the circuit. The diaphragm is held away from the plunger 19 by the spring 20 which engages the top of the switch 14 at 21 and the diaphragm by Way of the cup shaped base 22 contacting the surface of the diaphragm 10.

A raised rim 23 extends beyond the face plate 6 a sufflcient distance to guard the diaphragm 10 from any undesirable outside pressures other than the finger of the operator.

In the operation of our new and improved switch, the switch itself is connected to the end of an electric cable, not here shown, leading to the machinery to be operated by the switch. The operator picks up the switch, enters his thumb into one of the openings 16 controlling the desired switch he wishes to operate, depresses the diaphragm which compresses the spring 26. The bottom of the base cup 22 then contacts the plunger 19 of the switch, forcing it into the switch operating the said switch.

On releasing his finger the switch will open by the action of the spring 20 and the resiliency of the diaphragm 10. There are usually two switches in a switch of this kind, one to operate a motor in one direction and the other switch to operate the motor in the opposite direction, although we do not wish to be limited to the specific use of the switch.

The primary object of our invention is to build a switch casing to withstand high pressures and to provide an assembly wherein the switches are enclosed within a water and gas tight compartment. It will be noted that there are no moving parts coming in contact with the surrounding atmosphere, therefore our switch can be used after having been submerged in water or other forms of liquids, such as oils and the like.

When the switch is assembled the face or cover plate 6, diaphragm Hi, the sub-base and the switches 14 are assembled in one single unit by the screws 12 and 13. After assembly, the face plate 6 is applied to the casing, a seal being created between the upper edge 15 of the casing and the lower surface of the cover plate by the flexible or resilient diaphragm 1t) clamped therebetween by the screws 7, insuring a water and gas tight enclosure for the switches 14.

What is claimed is:

An electric switch assembly comprising a casing having an open top, a rigid cover closing said open top, a flexible diaphragm disposed between said cover and said open top and constituting a sealing gasket preventing fluid leakage into and from the interior of said casing around said cover, a switch housed within said casing underneath said diaphragm and cover, means fastening said switch to said cover, means disposed between said switch and said diaphragm and spacing said switch from said diaphragm and pressing said diaphragm into continuous engagement with the undersnrface of said cover, said cover having an opening therethrough whereby a portion of the diaphragm surface is exposed to serve as a switch actuator, said switch having a push button in registry with the exposed portion of the diaphragm surface for operating said switch in response to depression of the exposed portion of said diaphragm, said spacing means maintaining the exposed portion of said diaphragm in abutting relation with the undersurface of said cover around said cover opening and defining a restricted passage between said diaphragm and said switch coincident with said cover opening and enclosing said push button,

a flat rigid disc within said passage underlying the exposed surface of said diaphragm and having a downturned peripheral flange, and a coil spring disposed around said push button and seating within the periphery of said disc flange and reacting between said disc and said switch for forcing said disc into abutment with said diaphragm to assist in maintaining a fluid-tight seal between said diaphragm and said cover and inhibiting stretching of said diaphragm and accidental actuation of said push button.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Munthesen Jan. 13, 1931 Boynton Mar. 5, 1940 Eisenberg Mar. 2, 1948 Ballou Dec. 18, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS France July 24, 1939 

